ACCESSION 
NUMBER:348923

FILE ID:ECO303

DATE:06/15/94

TITLE:RIVAL EXPORT-CONTROL BILL WOULD GIVE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ROLE (06/15/94)

TEXT:*94061503.ECO  ECEXPLD  EXP CONTRLS  /js

RIVAL EXPORT-CONTROL BILL WOULD GIVE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ROLE

(Existing law expires June 30)  (430)

By Bruce Odessey

USIA Staff Writer

Washington -- The House of Representatives Armed Services Committee has

approved export-control legislation somewhat more restrictive than a bill

approved earlier by another House committee.



Congress' pace on this legislation is picking up now that few days remain

before the existing Export Administration Act (EAA) expires June 30.



The committee in the House with original jurisdiction, Foreign Affairs, had

approved a bill that would effectively eliminate Defense Department

influence on export controls relating to dual-use items -- technology and

goods that have both military and civilian applications.



Export controls on weapons themselves are covered by another law.

In its June 15 session, the Armed Services Committee produced a rival bill

that would restore and in some cases expand the Defense Department's role.



Where Foreign Affairs would give the Commerce Department sole authority to

make the list of controlled items, Armed Services would require Defense

Department participation as well as expand Defense's authority to include

controls on chemical and biological weapons and missiles.



Where Foreign Affairs would strip the Defense Department's authority to

participate in ordinary export license reviews, Armed Services would

restore and expand that authority.



Under current law, reviews of exceptionally sensitive export license

applications cannot exceed 120 days in most circumstances.  Foreign Affairs

would reduce that cap to 30 days, giving the Defense Department 10 days of

that.  Armed Services would reduce the cap to 50 days, giving Defense 30

days.



Armed Services' version would also delete a provision of Foreign Affairs'

bill limiting unilateral U.S. controls unless they were quickly adopted by

multilateral regimes.



The Foreign Affairs Committee version of the bill is strongly supported by

exporters.  Foreign Affairs will have to work out its differences over the

legislation with the Armed Services Committee as well as with the House

Select Intelligence Committee.



The Intelligence Committee was working up its own version of the bill behind

closed doors June 15.  Its members were known to be unhappy with Foreign

Affairs' provision relaxing export controls on computer software with

encryption capability.

1

Relaxation on encryption controls was strongly opposed by the Clinton

administration's National Security Agency as well.



If members could work out their differences to get a bill passed in the

House, they would still have to work out the differences with any bill

passed by the Senate.



In May the Senate Banking Committee approved an EAA bill much more to the

Clinton administration's liking; the full Senate has not yet acted on it.



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